Given the fact that Jagmeet Singh (Dhaliwal) is now the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) leader, all bets are off as to who will be Canada’s next Prime Minister on October 21st, 2019. Hint: It won’t be Justin Trudeau.

Why? Because neither the liberal media nor PM Justin Trudeau and his senior staff have a clue as to how to run a political campaign against a Sikh. I mean, the Trudeau Liberals constantly tell us that “diversity is their strength.” Which means, they won’t dare question Singh’s religion — like they do Andrew Scheer’s. Even though, oddly, both Scheer and Trudeau are Catholics.

Sure, the Liberals can fight Singh on policy but that likely won’t work either because so many NDP supporters voted Liberal in 2015. I mean, it is no secret that the federal Liberals stole most of the NDP 2015 campaign!

Take, for example, the issue of abortion and homosexuality. In both instances, the media and the Liberals are going to try to portray Scheer and the CPC as social conservative fanatics with a hidden agenda. Hmmm. Where have we heard that lie before? In fact, as this Google source says, abortion is also wrong in Sikhism and there are many differences of opinion regarding homosexuality.

In other words, the election of Jagmeet Singh as NDP leader just made Canadian politics a whole lot more interesting.

“Sorry, Justin. You’re not the fresh young face in town any more. You were hot, for a while. But Jagmeet Singh is hotter. You may have a huge Haida tattoo on your shoulder. But Jagmeet (also known as Jimmy) has a fuchsia turban on his head. You may know how to throw a punch. But he knows Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A few months ago, hardly anyone in Canada knew his name. Now, an entire political party is swooning at his feet, begging him to lead them from the obscurity that seems to be their semi-permanent lot in life. Half your voters could be next.”

I love it. What we are just starting to see and hear, which will get worse during the 2019 election, is called cognitive dissonance — the mental discomfort experienced by a person who simultaneously holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. For example, if a liberal voter values diversity, when faced with a handsome Sikh, why on earth would they vote for Trudeau? Of course, the fight for the hearts and minds of progressive Quebecers remains to be seen, particularly given Singh’s views on the niqab and religious freedom.

Credits: Frank Gunn, CP from CBC website.

Nevertheless, I say bring on the dissonance! Because, if the Singh led NDP splits the Liberal vote — Andrew Scheer’s chances of winning a majority Conservative government just got better! And, yes, that is the crux of the matter.

Maggat — Andrew Scheer is not really a conservative. Where have I heard that complaint before? Ernie Eves is not really a conservative. John Tory is not really a conservative. Tim Hudak is not really a conservative. Stephen Harper is not really a conservative. CINO’s all of them.

So what? Ontario has had Liberals for 14 years and is nearly bankrupt. Canada now has Trudeau and the same is happening to the country. Please stop judging who is or isn’t a conservative. It is a totally self-defeating attitude!

The point to take away from all this is that Canada is not the kind of conservative country you obviously want. Harper knew that he had to be a fiscal conservative but a centrist on social issues to win. And, that is what politics is all about — winning — so the leader and his or her party can govern.

No doubt the Liberals are facing difficulties, but I still wouldn’t count them on out yet. Now I hope Trudeau gets defeated in 2019, but we will have to work very hard to make sure it happens. Even with splits, you have groups like Leadnow and Dogwood initiative who poll individual ridings and will throw a lot of money to encourage strategic voting in one direction so its not splits at national level that matter it is at a riding level. We need to focus on Trudeau’s free spending, higher taxes, and deficits to pull away the Blue Liberals so we can win regardless of the splits. Otherwise most Liberals we will never win over, but the fiscally conservative John Manley types we can, who probably feel more and more estranged from the Trudeau Liberals.